School absence in England falls into two categories: authorised and unauthorised. The distinction matters considerably — not just for the school's records, but for whether a family can face a fine, a prosecution or neither. With the national attendance framework significantly tightened since 2024, understanding exactly how absence is classified and when penalties apply has become more important than ever for families.
This guide sets out the current rules as of the 2026–27 academic year, based on the national framework for school attendance that all state schools in England must follow.
Under the Education Act 1996, parents have a legal duty to ensure their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable, efficient, full-time education — either at school or otherwise. Where a child is registered at a school, attending that school regularly is a legal requirement. "Regularly" means on every day the school is open, except when absence is permitted. Both authorised and unauthorised absence count against a child's attendance record.
What Is Authorised Absence?
An absence is authorised when the school is satisfied that there is a legitimate reason and formally accepts the absence as such. Only the headteacher has the power to authorise an absence — a parent cannot authorise their own child's absence simply by informing the school.
Common reasons that schools typically authorise include:
- Illness (the most frequent reason) — schools generally accept a parent's word for illness, particularly for short absences, though they may ask for medical evidence for prolonged or repeated illness
- Medical or dental appointments that cannot be arranged outside school hours
- Religious observance — one day per religious occasion for recognised faiths
- Exceptional circumstances granted in advance by the headteacher — for example, a family bereavement, a significant family event, or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
- A child who is too unwell to attend (as confirmed by a medical professional or assessed by the school)
What Is Unauthorised Absence?
An absence is unauthorised when the school either has not been given a reason, does not accept the reason given, or has been asked to authorise something the headteacher does not consider justified.
The most common causes of unauthorised absence include:
- Term-time holidays — the most frequently disputed category. Headteachers can authorise leave only in "exceptional circumstances". Routine family holidays during term time — including cheaper off-peak holidays — are almost always refused and recorded as unauthorised.
- No reason given by the parent when the child is absent
- A reason given that the school does not accept (for example, a child kept home for a non-urgent reason the school considers avoidable)
- Arriving after the register has closed — a child who arrives after the register closes is marked as an unauthorised late
- Truancy
AI-generated image
The "10 in 10" Rule: When Fines Are Triggered
Under the national attendance framework, a penalty notice must be considered when a child accumulates 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school-week period.
Key points about this threshold:
- A school day has two sessions — morning and afternoon. Five full days of unauthorised absence equals 10 sessions.
- The 10 sessions do not need to be consecutive. A mix of isolated unauthorised absences across 10 weeks can trigger the threshold — for example, a one-day holiday, several late arrivals after the register, and a period of illness where no reason was given.
- The rolling 10-school-week window can cross term boundaries and even span two academic years.
- Local authorities retain discretion to issue notices earlier in cases of obvious intent to avoid the threshold (for example, a family that takes multiple 4-day holidays to stay below 10 sessions each time).
Penalty Notice Fine Amounts (2026)
Penalty notices are issued by the local authority (not by the school) and are charged per parent, per child. For a two-parent family with one child, two separate notices are issued — one to each parent.
| Offence | Fine if paid within 21 days | Fine if paid 22–28 days |
|---|---|---|
| First penalty notice (per parent, per child) | £80 | £160 |
| Second penalty notice within 3 years (same child) | £160 (flat rate, no early discount) | £160 |
| Third offence within 3 years (same child) | No further penalty notice — referral to Magistrates' Court (potential fine up to £2,500) | |
Example: Two parents take their child on a 5-day unauthorised term-time holiday. For a first offence, each parent receives an £80 notice (paid within 21 days) — a combined family cost of £160. If paid late, that rises to £320. A second offence within three years would cost £320 immediately (£160 each, no early payment discount).
Term-Time Holidays: The Headteacher's Discretion
The question parents ask most often is: "Can the school authorise a holiday during term time?"
The statutory answer is that headteachers may grant leave of absence during term time, but only where they are satisfied that the circumstances are exceptional. The DfE statutory guidance makes clear that the cost of holidays is not an exceptional circumstance, nor is the fact that a parent cannot get leave at any other time.
What has been found to constitute exceptional circumstances in some cases:
- A once-in-a-lifetime family event that cannot be rescheduled (e.g. a sibling's wedding abroad)
- A parent deployed in the armed forces whose leave is fixed
- A child performing in a significant cultural or sporting event
What consistently does not qualify:
- Family holidays during cheaper off-peak periods
- A parent who could not arrange annual leave during school holidays
- Extended family visiting from abroad
If the headteacher refuses the request and the family takes the holiday anyway, the absence will be unauthorised and the family may receive a penalty notice.
AI-generated image
How Absence Is Recorded and Reported
Schools take attendance registers twice a day — once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Each session is recorded with a code. The most common codes families encounter are:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| / (present) | Present in the morning session |
| (present) | Present in the afternoon session |
| B | Authorised absence — no reason (school records reason separately) |
| I | Illness — authorised |
| M | Medical/dental appointment — authorised |
| H | Authorised holiday in exceptional circumstances |
| O | Unauthorised absence — other reason or no reason provided |
| U | Unauthorised late arrival after register closed |
| G | Family holiday not authorised |
Schools report attendance data termly to the DfE. A child with attendance below 90% is classified as a persistent absentee — this triggers additional monitoring and may result in further intervention regardless of whether the absences were authorised or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
If absence is authorised, can the family still receive a fine?
No — penalty notices can only be issued for unauthorised absence. If a headteacher has authorised an absence, no penalty notice can follow from that absence. However, a headteacher is not obliged to authorise any absence: if the reason is not considered exceptional or legitimate, the request will be refused and any resulting absence will be unauthorised.
Can I appeal against a penalty notice?
There is no formal appeal process for penalty notices in the way that exists for, say, a parking fine through a tribunal. However, if you believe the notice was issued incorrectly — for example, if the absence was actually authorised and recorded in error, or if the threshold was not met — you can contact the local authority and provide evidence. In genuine administrative errors, notices are withdrawn. If you refuse to pay and believe the notice is unjust, the local authority would need to pursue prosecution in Magistrates' Court, where you would have the opportunity to present your case.
My child was ill but I forgot to call the school. Will that be unauthorised?
Possibly, yes — if no reason is given, schools typically record the absence as unauthorised until a reason is received. Most schools have a policy of contacting parents on the first day of absence if no contact has been made. If you provide the reason after the event (even the same day by end of school), most schools will update the record to authorised. However, it is good practice to call before 9am on the first day of any absence, and again on subsequent days if the illness continues.
Does the 10-session threshold count only unauthorised absences, or all absences?
Only unauthorised absences count towards the 10-session threshold for penalty notices. Authorised absences — for illness, medical appointments, or exceptional leave granted by the headteacher — do not count towards this threshold. However, high overall absence (including authorised absence) can still trigger other forms of intervention, such as persistent absentee monitoring or a referral to the local authority if attendance is severely below the expected standard.
We applied for leave in advance and it was refused. We went anyway. What happens now?
The absence will be recorded as unauthorised (typically with a G code for a holiday not granted). The school or local authority may then issue a penalty notice. The fact that you applied in advance does not protect against the notice — it simply confirms that the refusal was communicated and the decision was still made to proceed. A penalty notice would be issued on the standard terms: £80 per parent if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days.
What is "persistent absence" and how is it different from unauthorised absence?
Persistent absence is defined as missing 10% or more of school sessions across the academic year — equivalent to roughly 19 days or more. It is calculated on total absence, including both authorised and unauthorised sessions. A child can be a persistent absentee even if all their absence has been authorised (for example, due to a long-term medical condition). Persistent absence triggers enhanced monitoring by the school and may involve a referral to the local authority's attendance team for support — it does not automatically result in a penalty notice, which is a separate process triggered specifically by unauthorised absence.
